Composite Reinforcement Research Articles

Extraction of Lightweight Platanus orientalis L. Fruit's Stem Fiber and Determination of Its Mechanical and Physico-Chemical Properties and Potential of Its Use in Composites.

Natural fibers extracted from plants are preferred as an alternative to synthetic products. The main reasons for this preference are their affordable cost, light weight and good mechanical properties. However, finding new natural raw materials is challenging due to growth limitations in different geographical areas. Platanus orientalis L. (Eastern plane tree) is a tree with abundant fruits that can grow in many regions of the world. The aim of this study was to determine the mechanical (tensile strength, tensile modulus, elongation), physical (density, fiber diameter) and chemical (cellulose, hemicellulose and lignin) properties of Platanus orientalis L. fruit's stem by fiber extraction from the stems of the tree. It was determined that the extracted fiber had good mechanical properties and cellulose content of 42.03%. As a result of thermogravimetric analysis, it was determined that the plane tree fruit's stem fiber had thermal resistance of up to 299 °C. The tensile strength value was 157.76 MPa, the tensile modulus value was 1.39 GPa and the elongation value was 22.01%. It was determined that it is suitable for use in fiber reinforcement in thermoplastic-based composites at temperatures below 299 °C. According to the results obtained by the mechanical, chemical and physical analysis of Platanus orientalis L. fruit's stem fiber (PoLfs), it could be recommended as a suitable alternative as a reinforcing fiber in thermoplastic and thermoset composites.

Video deepfake detection using Particle Swarm Optimization improved deep neural networks

As complexity and capabilities of Artificial Intelligence technologies increase, so does its potential for misuse. Deepfake videos are an example. They are created with generative models which produce media that replicates the voices and faces of real people. Deepfake videos may be entertaining, but they may also put privacy and security at risk. A criminal may forge a video of a politician or another notable person in order to affect public opinions or deceive others. Approaches for detecting and protecting against these types of forgery must evolve as well as the methods of generation to ensure that proper information is supplied and to mitigate the risks associated with the fast evolution of deepfakes. This research exploits the effectiveness of deepfake detection algorithms with the application of a Particle Swarm Optimization (PSO) variant for hyperparameter selection. Since Convolutional Neural Networks excel in recognizing objects and patterns in visual data while Recurrent Neural Networks are proficient at handling sequential data, in this research, we propose a hybrid EfficientNet-Gated Recurrent Unit (GRU) network as well as EfficientNet-B0-based transfer learning for video forgery classification. A new PSO algorithm is proposed for hyperparameter search, which incorporates composite leaders and reinforcement learning-based search strategy allocation to mitigate premature convergence. To assess whether an image or a video is manipulated, both models are trained on datasets containing deepfake and genuine photographs and videos. The empirical results indicate that the proposed PSO-based EfficientNet-GRU and EfficientNet-B0 networks outperform the counterparts with manual and optimal learning configurations yielded by other search methods for several deepfake datasets.

Study on Nanomaterials Coated Natural Coir Fibers as Crack Arrestor in Cement Composite

The process of inclusion of carbon nanotubes as fibers in cement paste has been proved to have optimistic effect as it enhances the tensile property of cement paste composite. Coir fibers have exceptional mechanical qualities and are thus employed as reinforcement in cement composites. Epoxy resin, which has a high Young’s modulus, is an ideal component for bonding carbon nanotubes (CNTs) to coir fiber. This paper describes a novel kind of nanocomposite made of L-12 epoxy resin and CNTs at the nanolevel, along with coir fibers at the microlevel which operate as crack arrestors. To remove surface contaminants, coir fibers are first treated with sodium hydroxide (NaOH). Epoxy/CNTs polymer coatings were developed at varying CNTs fractions (0.05, 0.1, 0.15, and 0.2 wt.% of cement). Multiwalled CNTs were combined in distilled water, followed by epoxy resin and hardener (9 : 1 v/v) polymer in an ultrasonic sonicator for 90 min to ensure full dispersion of CNTs within the epoxy polymer. This blend is now coated on the treated clustered coir fiber (length 10 cm, 10 strands) and reinforced along the length of a cement composite beam 20 mm × 20 mm × 80 mm in size. Tensile and three-point tests were performed to evaluate the mechanical characteristics of the hybrid composite. The linear elastic finite element analysis is employed to distinguish their failure phenomena via fatigue or fracture behavior. The microstructure behavior and the effect of coating material on the coir fibers were investigated using scanning electron microscope and EDX analysis. The reinforcing impact of nanopolymer coated coir fiber in cement composite diminished the tensile and flexural strength after 0.1 wt.% of CNT fraction but increased the composite’s durability and Young’s modulus. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy analysis was carried out to assess the chemical interaction between the epoxy/CNTs and the coir fibers. The simulation was performed using ANSYS workbench, and the modeling results were within an acceptable 10% range of the experimental data. Nevertheless, it can be concluded that the hybrid composite is capable of enhancing the composite’s stress and strain capacity by regulating the fracture propagation process at the crack’s end.

Detection and characterisation of defects in composite materials using microwave non-destructive testing methods

This paper proposes a technique for detecting impact-induced surface and subsurface fractures in Glass Fibre Reinforced Composites (GFRPs) and hybrid composite materials. Various categories of composite samples, namely Unidirectional GFRP, Bidirectional GFRP, Woven mat GFRP and Carbon-flax hybrid composites are fabricated by the hand-layup process, and cracks are induced in the samples by three-point flexural bending test using a Universal Testing Machine. Near-field microwave Non-Destructive Testing (NDT) is employed in detecting the above cracks by recording the S11 parameter from the microwave transceiver probe throughout the sample. For image rendering the resulting outputs are passed as a 2-dimensional array to the image-rendering algorithms, namely Iterative Curve-Based Interpolation (ICBI), Improved New Edge-Directed Interpolation (INEDI) and the Lanczos algorithm. The most suitable algorithm to identify the clear picture and size of crack is identified, and the effectiveness of Microwave NDT for these composites is analysed.

Hemp fibers as sustainable reinforcement in natural fiber composites: A comprehensive review

Cannabis sativa, sometimes known as industrial hemp, is frequently used for manufacturing of high-cellulose bast (highly fibrous) fibers. The need for environmental conservation, combined with the beneficial characteristics of these fibers like their low thickness, high definite forte, and toughness prompts a strong interest in their utilization. Additionally, a great deal of effort has been put into developing novel materials thus improves the mechanical performance through surface modifications. Hemp fibers' most promising uses involve hybridization or as reinforcement in polymeric composites. However, more research is required to enhance their properties and broaden the scope of their uses. In the context of long-lasting applications and the ability to consistently reproduce the desired qualities of these composites, one significant concern is the biodegradability aspect, which requires careful consideration. This review offers a comprehensive examination of the existing body of research on hemp fibers, encompassing aspects such as the mechanical as well as chemical properties of hemp fibers, surface enhancements, hybrid composite materials, and both current and prospective applications.

Alkali resistance prediction and degradation mechanism of basalt fiber: Integrated with artificial neural network machine learning model

Basalt fiber is commonly regarded as an alkaline corrosion-resistant material, capable of being transformed into various products (such as basalt fiber roving, chopped yarn and composite reinforcement). However, the main composition of the basalt fiber network skeleton consists of Si ∼ O bonds, which can still react with ∼OH in the alkaline environment. Nevertheless, there are differing viewpoints on the alkaline corrosion of basalt fibers within literatures. Therefore, this study aims to select three representative types of basalt fibers and compare them with two alkali-resistant glass fibers and one regular glass fiber. The attenuation mechanism of basalt fibers were investigated through orthogonal experiments, practical application scenarios and microscopic characterization methods. Additionally, we employed the Weibull model to analyze failure probabilities after erosion on basalt fibers while also applying a machine learning artificial neural network (ANN) model for predicting their alkali resistance. The results indicated that the tensile strength of basalt fiber tended to decrease and the alkali resistance of basalt fiber between alkali-resistant glass fiber and regular glass fiber in four alkaline solutions. The Weibull model also confirms that erosion increases failure probability of basalt fiber and glass fiber. Moreover, Si ∼ O, which forms the network reacted with OH-, resulting in a reduction in surface Si and Al elements content. It became possible to predict the alkali resistance of basalt fiber accurately by establishing an ANN model. Our study provide a theoretical foundation for predicting the lifespan of basalt fibers under corrosive conditions while offering guidance for enhancing their alkali resistance.

Use of Used Graphite Electrodes as Metal Matrix Composites Reinforcement

The work presents the effect of the addition of graphite from recycled graphite electrodes on the mechanical properties of metal matrix composites (MMC) based on the AlMg10 alloy. A composite based on the AlMg10 alloy reinforced with natural graphite particles was also tested. Further, tests of the mechanical properties of the AlMg10 alloy were performed for comparative purposes. Composites with a particle content of 5, 10 and 15 percent by volume were produced by adding introduction of particles into the liquid matrix while mechanically mixing molten alloy. The composite suspensions were gravitationally cast into metal molds. Samples for the Rm, R0.2, A and E tests were made from the prepared castings. Photos of the microstructures of the materials were also taken. The research shows that the addition of graphite to the matrix alloy causes minor changes in tensile strength (Rm) and yield strength (R02), regardless of the type of graphite used. The results of the relative elongation tests showed that the introduction of graphite particles into the matrix alloy had an adverse effect on the elongation values in the case of each of the tested composites. The introduction of graphite particles into the AlMg10 alloy significantly increased the Young’s modulus value, both in the case of composites with flake graphite (natural) and graphite from ground graphite electrodes.

Mechanical and Antimicrobial Properties of Boron Nitride/Methacrylic Acid Quaternary Ammonium Composites Reinforced Dental Flowable Resins.

Dental resin composites (DRCs) are commonly used to restore teeth affected by dental caries or defects. These materials must possess excellent properties to withstand the complex oral environment. The objective of this study was to prepare and characterize Boron nitride nanosheets (BNN)/ dimethyl amino hexadecyl methacrylate (DMAHDM) composites (BNN/DMA), and to evaluate them as functional fillers to enhance the mechanical and antimicrobial properties of dental resins. The BNN/DMA composites were successfully prepared under the theoretical guidance of molecular dynamics (MD), and then the physicochemical and morphological characterization of the BNN/DMA composites were carried out by using various test methods, such as FT-IR, XRD, UV-vis spectroscopy, SEM, TEM, and AFM. It was doped into the dental flowable resin in a certain proportion, and the results showed that the flexural strength (FS), elastic modulus (EM), compressive strength (CS), and microhardness (MH) of the modified resin composites were increased by 53.29, 47.8, 97.59, and 37.1%, respectively, with the addition of 0.8 wt % of BNN/DMA composite fillers. It has a good inhibition effect on Streptococcus mutans, with an inhibition rate as high as 90.43%. Furthermore, this effect persists even after one month of aging. In conclusion, the modification of flowable resins with low-concentration BNN/DMA composites favorably integrates the mechanical properties and long-term antimicrobial activity of dental resins. At the same time, they have good biocompatibility and do not affect the aesthetics. The BNN/DMA composite modified flowable resin has the potential to become a new type of antimicrobial dental restorative material.

Nano-clay treatment of jute fiber for reinforcement in polymer composites: Mechanical, morphological, and thermo-kinetic analysis

Natural fibers have demonstrated exceptional properties that can be utilized as a viable and environmentally reliable material for reinforcement in polymer composites replacing their synthetic counterparts creating numerous environmental problems. Jute fiber is a prominent natural fiber that has been successfully applied for manufacturing noble natural fiber-based composites. This article describes the advantages and comparison between two surface treatment techniques that is alkali treatment and nano-clay treatment of jute fiber to enhance the properties for producing improved composite material. FTIR, SEM, AFM, and TGA have been utilized to compare and study how different surface treatment methods affect jute fiber. Isoconversional methods FWO and KAS are applied for the thermos-kinetic analysis and evaluation of activation energy of thermal decomposition. More than 30% increase in peak activation energy has been observed (120 KJ/mole to 160 KJ/mol). Alkali–nano-clay treated jute fiber exhibits nearly 32% improvement (405 MPa to 535 MPa) in tensile strength, 24% increment (11.85 GPa to 14.69 GPa) in tensile modulus, and 15% improvement (1.4 gm/cm3 to 1.61 gm/cm3) in fiber density as compared to that of untreated jute fiber. This study validates that nano-clay treatment has shown promising results and can improve the overall properties of natural fibers significantly.

Investigation of the microstructure and mechanical properties of an Al/SiC/ZrO2 hybrid composite by spark plasma sintering technique

The quantum of work with silicon carbide (SiC) and zirconium dioxide (ZrO2) in the aluminum hybrid composite material has increased due to the growing demand for lightweight materials for various industrial applications. The aluminum hybrid composite with the wt% of primary reinforcement particles of SiC was kept constant at 5%, and the secondary reinforcement particles of ZrO2 were taken by 5%, 10%, and 15%. The sintering parameters were used as the temperature at 600°C, holding time of 35 minutes, and pressure at 30MPa. In this work, the aluminum composite material reinforced with 5%wt of SiC particles compared the test results with aluminum hybrid composite reinforcement of SiC and ZrO2 nanoparticles. Adding ZrO2 reinforcements enhances the aluminum hybrid composite material's better microstructure, microhardness, tensile strength, compression, and yield strength.

Evaluation of the durability of cementicious composites reinforced with natural vegetable fibers from the Amazon

The study of the use of plant fibers as reinforcement for cementitious composites has become increasingly common in recent years, thanks to the advancement of technologies and the demand for innovative and sustainable materials. In the Amazon, this resource is widely found and used for different applications, and the present work is interested in evaluating the use of these fibers as structural reinforcement of cement slabs. The mechanical and durability properties of cementitious composites reinforced with a content of 5% vegetable fibers from jute (Corchorus capsularis) and mallow (Urena lobata L.) were investigated. The objective was to evaluate the quality and performance of these fibers as reinforcement of cementitious plates for a possible use of these composites in Civil Construction. Spreading and thermogravimetry tests were carried out on the matrix and tensile tests in flexion at 4 points on the composites. The results obtained indicated that the fibers provided an increase in the flexural strength and toughness of the composites, as well as the use of metakaolinite as a pozzolanic material, contributed to increasing the durability of these composites, indicating a great possibility of using them in structural and semi-structural applications.

Composite Physical - Mechanical Properties Of Bazalt Reinforcement And Comparison With Steel Reinforcement And Inspection For Flammability

This article discusses the effectiveness and scope of steel and composite reinforcement, their advantages and disadvantages, as well as a comparison of their main characteristics. Describes tests to determine the combustibility of basalt reinforcement, in order to determine the possibilities of its application.

Effect of Number of Layers on Tensile and Flexural Behavior of Cementitious Composites Reinforced with a New Sisal Fabric

The use of fabric in reinforcing cement-based materials expands their applications for various types of construction elements. Additionally, employing renewable sources of plant-based fabrics contributes to reducing the environmental impact of the construction industry. However, the variability in the properties of plant fibers and fabrics necessitates prior studies to confirm their effectiveness as reinforcement materials. In this study, a new sisal fabric was produced and utilized as reinforcement in cement-based matrix composites. The sisal fibers, yarns, and fabrics produced were tested under direct tension. Five composites were manufactured by manual lamination, with reinforcement ranging from one to five layers, and were subjected to direct tension and flexural testing. The results indicate that, while the fiber shows brittle failure, the yarn and fabric exhibit a gradual loss of strength after reaching the maximum tension. All composites display strain-hardening and deflection-hardening behavior, with multiple cracking and an increase in tension and deformation before rupture. The mechanical properties exhibited improvement with an increase in the number of layers, and composites with four and five layers displayed distinct behavior, demonstrating increased stiffness after the occurrence of multiple cracking and a better mechanical performance, qualifying them for use as a construction element.

Extraction, purification, and characterization of novel plant fiber from Tabernaemontana divaricate stem to use as reinforcement in polymer composites

Extraction, purification, and characterization of novel plant fiber from Tabernaemontana divaricate stem to use as reinforcement in polymer composites

The Manufacturing Process and Corrosion Properties of Magnesium Matrix Composites: A Review

Magnesium-based biomaterials are a new generation of biodegradable metals that are playing a major role in the development of future implant materials. Magnesium-based materials can corrode too rapidly during physiological conditions and lose their usefulness before bones heal. This review aims to provide a comprehensive overview of the selection of suitable matrix and reinforcing materials as well as suitable process techniques to achieve better corrosion resistance targeted for dental implant applications. It also discusses the advantages and disadvantages of testing methods and corrosion media commonly used for biomedical applications. Specific search strategies are carried out in electronic databases: Springer, Pubmed, and Sciencedirect as well as google without limiting years. Papers are selected after reviewing their title, abstract, and full text. Then study the objectives, criteria, methods, and results. Based on the available literature, we can conclude that for magnesium-based composite matrices it is preferable to use commercially available Mg AZ91D alloys to investigate their corrosion behavior in vitro and in vivo environments. While for the composite reinforcement, bioceramic materials can be used, including Hydroxyapatite (HA) added with Zirconia ceramics (ZrO2) or Titanium metal oxide (TiO2). Furthermore, the process of making ceramic composites uses powder metallurgy (PM) and squeeze casting methods. Then, corrosive testing can use the commonly used electrochemical methods, namely Potentiodynamic Polarization (PDP) and Electrochemical Impedance Spectroscopy (EIS) with corrosive SBF media.

Pengaruh Penambahan Serat Kulit Jagung Terhadap Sifat Mekanik Komposit Polipropilena (PP) dengan Penambahan Aluminium Oksida (Al2O3) dan Maleat Anhidrida (MAH) sebagai Coupling Agent

The utilization of polymer composites in the automotive field is expanding due to their characteristics such as strength, stiffness, and light weight. Polypropylene (PP) is one of the thermoplastic polymers widely used in composite manufacturing due to its lightweight, corrosion-resistant, and recyclable properties. However, to improve its mechanical properties, modifications using natural reinforcements and coupling agents continue to be made. Corn husk fiber is a natural resource that has potential as a natural reinforcement in polymer composites, it has the advantages of good tensile strength, light weight, and is biodegradable. The addition of Aluminium Oxide (Al2O3) and Maleic Anhydride (MAH) as coupling agent can improve the adhesion between fiber and polymer matrix, support more even load distribution, and optimize the mechanical properties of the composite Al2O3 and MAH on the mechanical properties of PP composites. The composition used was polypropylene: corn husk fiber rasio :Al2O3: MAH, namely 90:5:5:0, 89:5:5:1, 87:5:5:3, and 85:5:5:5% by weight. Tensile strength test using Universal Testing Machine (UTM) and crystallinity test using Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC) were conducted to evaluate the material performance. The highest value of tensile strength and crystallinity in the composition with 0 %weight MAH. The results of these tests, showing that the greater the composition of corn husk fiber has an influence on the decrease in tensile strength and crystallinity of the composite.

Recent progress in carbide‐based composite materials fabricated by laser additive manufacturing processes

AbstractFabricating and introducing new materials with new features is one of the most important goals for many scientific groups. Today, additive manufacturing (AM) is known as one of the new production methods, which can create an excellent opportunity for achieving this goal. As one of the ongoing production processes, the laser AM (LAM) methods have the proper capacity for producing new advanced materials like carbide, nitride, and boride‐based materials. Hence, this work aims to review carbide‐based materials produced by LAM techniques with the composite viewpoint. These materials can act as a matrix, reinforcement, or tertiary component in advanced composites. With this viewpoint, these composite materials were introduced in eight separate sections, which are tungsten carbide, titanium carbide, silicon carbide, niobium carbide, chrome carbide, vanadium carbide, and boron carbide, as well as high entropy alloy composites.

High Performance and Reprocessable In Situ Generated Nanofiber Reinforced Composites Based on Liquid Crystal Polyarylate.

Polymers are playing important roles in the rapid development of triboelectric nanogenerators (TENGs); However, most polymers cannot meet the high requirements of thermomechanical performance; Thus, various polymeric composites are developed for triboelectric layer. These composites are hardly recycled since their reinforcements are unevenly distributed after reprocessing, which limits the sustainable development of TENGs. To solve the above challenges, in situ generated nanofiber reinforced composites (NFRCs) based on single-component liquid crystal polyarylate (LCP) are designed and prepared via a one-step polycondensation. Nonlinear naphthalene (NDA) widens the processing window of LCP without destabilizing the liquid crystal phase. The NDA-rich domains act as a matrix while the NDA-poor domains with higher rigidity form oriented nanofibers to achieve self-reinforcement. The resultant NFRCs possess high glass transition temperature (Tg > 220 °C) and storage modulus (E' = 0.1GPa at 350 °C), which are far beyond existing triboelectric polymers, typically Tg < 110 °C and E' < 0.1MPa (flowable) at 350 °C. Furthermore, NFRC-based TENG exhibits superior electrical output performance and retention rate (>90%) after reprocessing; Overall, this work offers a new design principle to prepare self-reinforced composites, which paves a way to explore high performance materials.

Basalt fibre degradation in seawater and consequences for long term composite reinforcement

Basalt fibres are increasingly employed as reinforcements in marine composites, but their behaviour in natural marine environments is underexplored. This study investigates basalt fibre ageing in renewed natural seawater at 15 °C and 40 °C. After one month in seawater at 15 °C and 40 °C, tensile strength dropped, stabilizing at approximately −40% and −60%, respectively. This rapid initial property decline, followed by slower degradation, is attributed to an altered surface layer on the fibres. Initially causing significant property loss, this layer then plays a protective role, preserving the fibre core. The impact on basalt/epoxy composites exposed to 7.5 years of seawater was less severe, with a 20% loss at 40 °C, demonstrating the protective function of the matrix. This study suggests that basalt fibres undergo rapid, then stable, property degradation in water, but remain suitable for use as epoxy matrix composite reinforcements, thanks to the protective role of the resin.

Enhanced thermal shock resistance of low‐carbon Al2O3‐C refractories via CNTs/MgAl2O4 whiskers composite reinforcement

AbstractThe CNTs/MgAl2O4 whiskers composite reinforcement was prepared by catalytic carbon‐bed sintering and added to low‐carbon Al2O3‐C refractories to enhance the thermal shock resistance of refractories. The effects of Ni(NO3)2·6H2O content on the phase and microstructure of CNTs/MgAl2O4 were investigated. The nano‐indentation technology was used to quantitatively evaluate the effect of CNTs/MgAl2O4 on the thermal shock resistance of low‐carbon Al2O3‐C refractories, and the toughening mechanism of CNTs/MgAl2O4 on refractories was further investigated. The results revealed that the inner and outer diameters of the CNTs were approximately 5.69 and 16.26 nm, respectively. The CNTs winded around interlocking structural MgAl2O4 whiskers with a high aspect ratio (&gt;100), which was beneficial to the dispersion of CNTs in the refractory matrix. The thermal shock resistance of low‐carbon Al2O3‐C refractories was significantly improved by adding 3.0 wt.% of CNTs/MgAl2O4 (named C3). The specific fracture energy of refractory matrix and residual strength ratio of C3 reached 141 N·m−1 and 39.2%, which were 29.4% and 97.0% higher than those of the blank sample (109 N·m−1 and 19.9%), respectively. This is because the refractory matrix was significantly reinforced by CNTs and MgAl2O4 whiskers, promoting the occurrence of “bridging” and “crack deflection” and the generation of microcracks in the refractory matrix.